His horse was reaching it's limit. He could feel it's heart thrumming against his calves like a trapped drum-it's mouth agape and frothing. The beast wheezed, and he worried it would collapse from under him. But he couldn't stop to let it rest. There wasn't any time.
He forced it through tough thickets of thorns, over fallen trees and around obstacles so quickly that he feared he'd break his own neck. His legs were sore and his hands were running themselves raw with all of the yanking and jerking of the reigns. And his pursuers were closing in fast.
When Nolan had devised this route, he had figured that no one would pursue him through the Forbidden Forest because it was labeled "forbidden" for a reason. He was certain the only forces he'd have to tackle through it would have been the occasional wild dog or angry bird.
What he hadn't expected was the caravan of bandits waiting just within the brush, and for them to be so well concealed that he wouldn't notice them until they were on his tail. During his studies he'd heard about bandits, but he'd never actually seen them. Now he knew why they were such a problem.
Just a little farther, he thought frantically.
Just a little farther and we'll be out of the forest and out in the open. Surely they will stop pursuing me there.
Bandits don't like fighting in open spaces. Or so he'd read. But books didn't know everything. With his luck, they'd probably keep pursuing him even if he was drowning in the lake.
They had no doubt caught sight of his gold enameled sword-his silver inlaid saddle and his silk dress wear. They had been stealing from people long enough to know which fights to pick. And here he was in the "forbidden forest" all to his lonesome, and covered in treasure. He wasn't going to escape them until he was dead or they were.
This is it. I'm going to die.
It was a morbid thought, but he couldn't help it.
Had I known at breakfast this morning that this was how my day was going to end, I would have just stayed in bed.
His horse suddenly shrieked and stumbled to a dangerous halt. He looked around his steed to realize that just beyond its stamping hooves was a thicket of thorny brush so massive he could have gotten lost in it. There was no way his horse was going to go through that, and there were no routes around it.
This was it. They were done.
Nolan turned in the saddle with a sigh, and slowly drew his sword. At least now he could measure all of that training he'd gone through at the castle. See if what he'd been told was really the case. The bandits surrounded him removing their own weapons from their dark black cloaks.
He could see the whites of their eyes from above their masks and had to remind himself that these were just people trying to survive (though survive was probably too positive a word in this case).
Where they people from his Kingdom?
Did it matter?
Enough money could turn anyone into a killer. The first bandit screamed as he roared forward, blade raised and Nolan prepared himself for the onslaught. But the bandit wasn't the only person screaming, and they all realized this quickly.
The bandit coming at him turned just in time to have what appeared to be an onion in a net crash right into his skull. He reeled, nearly falling off of his horse as a third party-one man on a horse-came riding in. Nolan prepared for a fight, but this man wasn't facing him.
He was facing the bandits-like he was acting as Nolan's guard.
Nolan didn't see his face immediately, but by the leather vest and chipped sword he was hanging over his head, he knew the man was a regular commoner-nothing special.
Well, that was until the man-singlehandedly-raced straight at the bandits while shrieking like a banshee. What Nolan had perceived as some sort of nosy passerby or hero wannabe-was more than likely insane.
Nolan watched with some concern as the man swung his sword over his head with violence, and crashed it right into the first bandit on horseback that was desperately trying to scramble out of his way.
The bandit desperately tried to defend himself, but the stranger clashed swords with him, and from his left flank he thrashed the poor man with his onion-net weapon. Attacked on two sides-the bandit didn't know what to do with him.
The other bandits started to surround him, hoping perhaps to trick him and knock him from his horse. Nolan prepared his sword-willing to jump into the fray and help this stranger in the fight. That was, until the stranger literally hopped up to his haunches (on his horse!) and hopped to the one the bandit was on.
Nolan wasn't sure why this was so spooky to the bandits, but moments later they were shrieking and belting their horses-racing to get out of there. The stranger watched them leave, staring at the one bandit that had been left behind. Looking up at the stranger, the poor man took off at a run, without his horse.
{♡}
Chapter ThreeThe night was unusually long for Aliyah as having to sleep evaded her essence. The moment she close her eyes to attempt sleep, the horrors of her pack always tends to hunt Aliayh. She couldn't imagine herself going through the trauma, as it would most definitely hunt her for more years to come, that she was so certain about.The sun was already out; an indication that it was going to be most likely hot during the day. The chirps of the birds could be heard and the morning dew had never gotten even far better than it was at the moment. Aliyah stared out the window, soaking in the innocence of the air, as she looked around the pack houses.Suddenly her ears picked up footsteps which seemed to be heading her way. She closed the window and move back to the bed, anticipating the door to be opened soon. A slight knock came through and after voicing out her approval, the anonymous person stepped into the room and it turned out it was the Alpha."Greetings Aliyah. I see you had a
Chapter FiveStaring at the door, Raphael was conflicted. He knew that his father was a very strict leader and being one of the top leaders of the Elite Pack, everyone respected him. Once he summoned the much courage he needed, Raphael pulled the door open, revealing a dimly lit room. Alpha Norrignton was fond of the dark and Raphael was fully aware of this trait, which he found absolutely absurd."What is the problem son?" His father's voice pulled his attention towards the king size bed, where his father was looking throuy several documents."Father, I uhm.. well I came to discuss something very important with you and I would be glad if you spare me the time to speak." Alpha Norrignton pulled his documents aware and for a moment, he studied his son's countenance. He looked uneased and this increased his curiosity.Raphael approached the bed, pulling out a chair attached to the reading table, his father seemingly had picked the documents from."I finally found my mate." Hid reaction w
Chapter SevenMorning came quite swift than Aliyah had expected. She rose from the bed and the first thought that flew to her mind was how she would be able to go back to school. While she was still in water wave pack, she could remember the lessons made by her father about the importance of school. She had fully come to terms with the fact that she would be staying with Raphael, who is her mate for most probably the rest of her life, that doesn't changed the fact that she still didn't need to go to school. After thinking about it for a couple of minutes, Aliyah stepped down from her king size bed and head out the room. The door hadn't been fixed by Raphael and it left her wondering what sort pyscho she would be living with.Raphael was going through his phone, while eating his breakfast. He had woken up quite late and it was due to the fact that he had been working all night long. He suddenly felt a presence and when he looked up, Aliyah stood in her night gown staring down at her fee
Chapter NineThe next day, Aliyah filed with confidence stepped out of the limousine and this time the personal body guard was by her side, observing her every movement, while she stepped into the hallway. As a custom, all eyes were on her and as she had been thought by Daisy, she wasn't going to give a damn about the situation.While pulling her biology textbook from her locker, she felt presence behind her and when she turned around, Imade and her minions were staring at her. Aliyah looked around and there was no sign of the guard attached to her. "So you made it out of Romeo's grasp. Quite fascinating." Imade grabbed her by the collar and pushed her to the wall, forcing Aliyah to smack her head by the locker. "Listen very well Aliyah, I am the center of attention of this school and it is slowly becoming obvious you want to steal my spotlight. I am not going to allow that happen." While Imade made an attempt to throw a punch, she felt something or someone withholding her hand from la
Chapter Eleven"And that's how things came to be between both Raphael and myself." Pearl said. Apparently, they were having dinner together he had given her a warm welcome. Pearl decided to explain the bad blood that existed between Raphael and himself to Aliyah and this made Aliyah completely shock. A family war wasn't one that usually end well and being in the mix was slowly going to spell trouble."So what happens..." Aliyah couldn't complete her statement as she felt something wrong with her belly and immediately stood up and rushed over to the basin and puked out completely. "Are you alright?" Pearl asked rushing over to her side. Aliyah was feeling completely dizzy and Pearl noticed it. He quickly helped her to her room and placed a call to the doctor.After a couple of hours, the doctor arrived and ran series of test on Aliyah, who was fast asleep. "Such a pleasant surprise Mr. Pearl. Turns out this young lady here is pregnant." Pearl gasped as he heard those words from the doct
CHAPTER ThirteenEveryone at the round table gasped upon hearing that one single word. Raphael bowed his head in shame as he looked on to his father who was already staring at him. He thought Aliyah was going to keep up with the lie but her sudden revelation would mean his father taking him off the position as the leader of the Alpha squad."Can you explain in details what you mean by the phrase NO" Norrignton asked her in a low tone still trying to recover from the shock."When Raphael approached me, he offered my uncle a contract that I be his wife for a period of time. All through those months, I stay faithful as a wife would, obeyed his instruction and before the time could elapse, I kinda started having feelings for him" Aliyah was rudely interrupted by Priscilla"Leader of the round table, Norrignton, I hail you, this woman here is a con artist and I had been right all along; she was never worthy of being part of the round table" Priscilla looked on to everyone seated and watched
Micah took a seat within the sitting room, and presented to the King and his son the face of the little bundle he carried. One very tiny, very pink, little girl. "Is she not the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?" Micah asked, running an index finger over her tiny button nose. "Look at her, all calmness, like her mother." "I bet there's some crazy in her somewhere," said King Nolan with a smile. "We may just have to wait a little while before she can use it." "Is that a baby?" Prince Varian asked, coming up to see. He peered down at the little girl and the wonder began. "Where'd she come from?" "A stork," said the King, for little anything else to be said. Micah snorted at this, and while rocking his child, chastised the King. "You can tell him the truth Nolan, he's a big boy." Nolan narrowed his eyes at the Merchant. "I will do no such thing. He is four-" "Four and a half-" Varian interrupted. The King corrected himself. "Right, four and a half, and is still not ready for
Chapter SeventeenThe doubts Aliyah had were erased; although not to the minimal but the visual she saw was evident enough to show that Norrignton had actually given the affairs of the family to Pearl to run. She sighed something and told her that there was trouble looming and it would be only a matter of time before this trouble revealed itself. Priscilla's continuous smile was what irritates her a lot and also the fact that Pearl might possibly use his power to do something drastic to her relationship with Raphael. She didn't care that he was the leader, she would continue to stick with Raphael and her son at all costs."I must admit you did well with the presentation Mr. Anthony Brown" a voice from the phone spoke to Brown who was taking a cup of coffee."I know I am a good actor, there is no need to give me compliments," Brown said with a smile on his face."I will have one of my escorts wire you the remaining five hundred thousand dollars in an hour" the voice told him."It is no